Studies suggest high concentration of mercury in Antarctic penguins
The feathers of three species of penguins from Antarctica show high concentrations of mercury, according to a study published today by a team that includes researchers from the Spanish Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC).
This team, which also includes scientists from the Arid Zones Experimental Station (EEZA-CSIS), the Carlos III Health Institute and the University of Murcia (southeastern Spain), analyzed the plumage of several individuals of the Papuan species (Pygoscelis papua), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and Adelia (Pygoscelis adeliae), from samples taken between 2005 and 2007 in a “wide” geographic area in the Antarctic peninsula.
His conclusion, published by the magazine 'International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health', is that this metal is being ...